Archives for June 2007

Interesting Coffee Facts

Coffee may be a common beverage, but it has a great story to tell.? The start of the lowly coffee bean has been a slow process that eventually led it into the state of prominence that it now enjoys. And not only that, but there are also some very interesting facts about coffee that you should know.

The enduring fascination of a man with coffee has stemmed from a rich history that took the coffee bean from its origins in Ethiopia to its eventual spread into the worldwide consciousness. The first coffee plants were so highly regarded by the Arabs that they prevented its spread to other countries by boiling the coffee berries first before they marketed them to prevent any chance of being cultivated outside their territory.

Coffee, when it was first introduced in Europe, was first known as Arabian Wine. In England during the 1600s, coffee was considered as a medicinal tonic or brew, probably due to its stimulating effects. The belief in its medicinal properties became so seriously accepted that wild medical contraptions were eventually built in order to administer a mixture of coffee and an assortment of heated butter, honey, and oil as accepted treatments for the sick.

It further grew in popularity so much so that it was commonly sold by street vendors in street carts in typical Arabian style. This was the accepted practice of selling coffee all around Europe until the late 1700’s when the first French cafe was opened. Coffee became so popular all over Europe that by 1763, there were over 200 coffee shops in Venice alone.

The popularity and the allure of coffee continue to grow. Currently, about 52 percent of Americans drink coffee regularly. The average annual coffee consumption of a typical American adult is about 400 cups, which amounts to 26.7 gallons. The United States is considered the world’s largest coffee consumer.

It imports an estimated 16 to 20 million bags yearly. This is equivalent to one-third of all coffee exported in the world. The typical coffee drinker in the US drinks an average of 3.4 cups of coffee per day.

In other parts of the world, coffee also holds the same appeal. Coffee is the most popular beverage worldwide with a yearly consumption of over 400 billion cups. And because of this coffee has become a highly valuable commodity in the world, second only to oil. Scandinavia is considered to have the world’s highest per capita annual coffee consumption, arriving at about 26.4 pounds per person. Japan ranks top three in the world when it comes to coffee consumption.

What is Organic Coffee?

This is the process of growing crops without the use of fertilizers and other substances. This means farmers will work in the fields, let the water give the plants their nutrients, and then watch them grow with the help of the sun.

With the help of the US Department of Agriculture, crop rotation has been set in place so that farmers will still be able to cope with the demand for the various coffee products that are sold on the market.

One way to get more people interested is for the federal government to offer incentives. It takes years before the farm can be certified but in the long run, is beneficial for everyone.

This is considered to be the trend these days since the chemicals that were used to make the crops grow aren’t washed away or decontaminated before this is packed and purchased by the customer.

Since the production time is much slower, organic coffee is quite expensive. A 12oz. bag for example is being sold at $12 so the customer can just imagine how much this will cost in a much larger container.

These products are usually sold in a different section of the supermarket. There are organic coffee products that are caffeinated or decaffeinated. There are also those in cans that are flavored. Each item must have a seal certifying its authenticity so as not to confuse it with the old one.

Despite that, some people are still purchasing inorganic coffee and other products. Not all of these are made in the United States, which means they are imported from South America, Europe, and Asia.

Analysts believe the prices of organic coffee products will go down in the next few years. This is as farmers in the United States and abroad decide to follow crop rotation practices and abandon the old method of using fertilizers and pesticides. This may not happen next year but things can change a decade from now.

Different Kinds of Coffee Delights

When it comes to enjoying coffee today, people seem to benefit from the many choices available today. Thanks to many enterprising individuals who helped make the business of coffee enjoyment a more popular privilege as well as a lifestyle. Before, coffee drinking was considered an ordinary everyday ritual.

Nobody bothered how they enjoyed their coffee. Most people didn’t have an idea then that there are other ways to enjoy coffee than just the black variety. It wasn’t until Starbucks came into existence that coffee drinking became the popular trend.

With Starbucks and other similar coffee shops offering different varieties of the popular beverage, the evolution of coffee as just an ordinary beverage has come upon us. Nowadays, one may not just order coffee as itself. There are currently a host of choices available that will challenge the taste buds. Aside from the traditional black coffee, there is the espresso to consider.

Espresso is basically coffee made by forcing hot water under high pressure through roasted coffee that has been grounded to an extremely fine powder. This results in having a beverage that produces a rich, flavorful, and almost syrupy beverage.

Its characteristics are due to the extraction and emulsification of the oils found in ground coffee by pressuring hot water through them. Espresso can be enjoyed as a straight shot or mixed with steamed milk and in a lot of other ways.

Aside from the straight shot espresso, there is also the caffe latte that might also be an interesting coffee experience. It is basically coffee served mixed with milk. It can be differentiated from a cappuccino in the sense that it contains more milk and therefore may have a creamier and milkier flavor to it. Cappuccino on the other hand may contain about a one-third less milk in a usual serving.

Another coffee beverage becoming more and more popular is the relatively new and unique selection of flavored coffee drinks being offered by more and more coffee shops like Starbucks. These are special creations that are served as hot espresso mixed with a flavored syrup.

The choices have grown as more and more flavors are being mixed with coffee as the base. Nowadays, there are vanilla, Irish creme, almond, hazelnut, and caramel flavored coffee drinks to choose from aside from other exotic fruity flavors such as orange and raspberry coffee drinks.

Antioxidants in Coffee

Getting eight hours of rest, a good diet, and taking multivitamins are the best ways to maintain a healthy body. But did people know that drinking coffee is also beneficial because it has antioxidants?

This was discovered after researchers did further tests to check if there are any effects of drinking coffee aside from increased alertness. Studies conclude that taking two to three cups daily can prevent various diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, depression, and the prevention of cavities.

Another study shows that the antioxidants contained in coffee are more effective than those coming from fruits and vegetables. This is because not all of the nutrients here have done much to protect the individual from various diseases.

Aside from coffee, other substances that also contains caffeine, which can help boost the immune system, are tea and chocolate. Red wine or beer is also helpful but these must be consumed in moderation.

Green coffee beans, for example, have something inside called chlorogenic acid. This is an antioxidant that helps regulate the digestive system and makes the body absorb oxygen much better than other liquids.

Regular black coffee on the other hand has caffeic acid, melanoidins, and N-methylpyridinium.

There are people who drink coffee with cream, milk, or sugar. Even if one or all three are mixed with coffee, the level of antioxidants remains the same so people can still reap the benefits of drinking it.

So, the next time you go to a cafe and decide to get a drink, chances are coffee will be ordered instead of a cup of tea. You will just have to choose from the different variants now available which could be either hot or cold.

Studies have shown that there is nothing wrong with drinking more than three cups of coffee daily. Some people are able to do it while others can’t. The best thing to do is know when enough is enough. After all, there is always tomorrow and it isn’t that difficult to brew up a new batch. By engaging in other things that will benefit one’s lifestyle, you will surely live until one is in the ’70s or ’80s.

The only ones who shouldn’t drink coffee are those who are pregnant, are suffering from heart disease, or children who will become restless with the excess energy due to the caffeine.

How to Store Your Coffee Fresh

With the price tag that comes with coffee granules nowadays, it isn’t enough that you just place them in a jar and put them on the kitchen table. With the kind of money that you pay for a gourmet coffee granule, it is essential that you learn to store them the proper way.

But what is the right way to store coffee granules?

Some say that you can freeze them or refrigerate them to prolong life. Others recommend that you place the coffee granules in packets or jars and seal them as tightly as possible. Do others have different storage advice for whole bean coffee and a different one for ground coffee granules? Will the storage method matter?

How to Store Green Beans

As a general rule, green coffee beans have the best shelf life and they are very easy to store. All you have to do is just put them inside a tightly-sealed jar and keep them in a location that is cool and dry. With proper storage, they can last for more than a year.

There are however few people who use green beans perhaps because it is too much work to prepare them. You have to grind and roast them first before you can actually be able to drink. This isn’t good with people who are used to instant mixes.

How to Store Whole Beans

The shelf life of a roasted whole bean is much better than those that aren’t roasted. A roasted whole bean can last for about 1 to 2 weeks. It is however important that it is kept at standard room temperature and be sealed in an air-tight container or canister. As much as possible, use glass canisters and avoid plastic ones as the flavor may be compromised in some way by the plastic material.

Remember though to use dark-colored glass as these beans shouldn’t be exposed to light in any way. Metal containers are also a no-no. Another good alternative is ceramic ones.

Every two to three days, open the canister to release the gas that is produced by the roasted beans. One alternative to eliminate the problem of gas is to use valve bags, which allow the carbon dioxide to escape. One disadvantage though is that these bags can be very expensive and quite rare.

If however your whole bean coffee isn’t consumed in two weeks, then it is important to store the coffee in the refrigerator and freeze them. Stored like this, the coffee beans can last for a month or two. Just wrap the beans with plastic wrap. If you need to use the beans, just grind them frozen. Once thawed, you can’t use them again.